Associative thickener dispersion

ABSTRACT

An aqueous dispersion of a copolymer with copolymerized units a) of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, b) of at least one nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, c) of at least one C 1 -C 2 -alkyl methacrylate, d) of at least one C 2 -C 4 -alkyl acrylate, where the alkyl chain length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the alkyl acrylate is 2.1 to 4.0, is described. Following neutralization with alkali, the dispersion serves as associative thickener, in particular for liquid detergent and cleaner formulations. The thickeners are characterized by high transparency and high thickening effect coupled with high shear dilution.

The invention relates to an aqueous dispersion of an alkali-soluble copolymer which is suitable as associative thickener. The associative thickener is characterized in the dissolved, highly viscous form by high light transmission or transparency and is suitable, for example, as thickener and/or rheology modifier in transparent coating compositions, in formulations for textile manufacture, for textile printing pastes, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sector, for paints, pigment slurries, for transparent detergents and cleaners and in foods. The invention further relates to a method for preparing the associative thickener by emulsion polymerization, and to detergents and cleaners which comprise the associative thickener.

Associative thickeners are water-soluble polymers and have surfactant-like hydrophobic constituents which are able, in a hydrophilic, in particular aqueous medium, to associate, i.e. interact, both with themselves and also with other hydrophobic substances. The medium is thickened or gelled by the associative network resulting therefrom.

EP-A 0 013 836 discloses emulsion copolymers which comprise (i) 20 to 69.5% by weight of (meth)acrylic acid, (ii) 0.5 to 25% by weight of a monomer of the formula CH₂═C(R)—C(O)—O—(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)—R⁰, in which R is H or CH₃, n is at least 2 and R⁰ is C₈-C₃₀-alkyl, and (iii) at least 30% by weight of C₁-C₄-alkyl(meth)acrylate. Following neutralization with alkali, the copolymers serve as thickeners for paints, detergents and the like.

WO 99/65958 describes alkali-soluble thickeners which comprise the reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophobic, alkoxylated macromonomer. The monoethylenically unsaturated monomer comprises a methyl group; it is preferably methyl acrylate. These polymers should become soluble at pH 4.5 to 6.0 and are therefore suitable for cosmetic products.

WO 2006/016035 relates to the use of a water-soluble acrylic polymer as thickener in pigmented aqueous preparations. The acrylic polymer consists of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer with carboxyl function, an ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated oxyalkylated monomer which is terminated with a hydrophobic nonaromatic branched chain having 10 to 24 carbon atoms. One embodiment relates to a polymer in which the ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomer is composed of ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate (example 7).

Transparent viscous liquid detergent and cleaner compositions are enjoying increasing popularity. There is therefore a need for associative thickeners which have high transparency in the dissolved, i.e. neutralized, state and exhibit no clouding of any kind when incorporated into surfactant-containing formulations. Moreover, thickeners are desired which impart a very high viscosity to the thickened medium in the resting state, and a low viscosity upon the action of high shear forces.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide novel associative thickeners whose solutions and/or formulations with a high surfactant content are highly transparent and which have a high thickening effect coupled with high shear dilution.

The object is achieved according to the invention by an associative thickener which comprises an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer, where the copolymer comprises copolymerized units

-   a) of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, -   b) of at least one nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant     monomer, -   c) of at least C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylate, -   d) of at least one C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate, where the alkyl chain     length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the alkyl     acrylate is 2.1 to 4.0, preferably 2.2 to 3.9, particularly     preferably 2.3 to 3.9 or 2.4 to 3.9 and in particular 2.5 to 3.8.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the combination of at least one C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylate and at least one C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate with the stated average alkyl chain length is particularly suitable for preparing dispersions with an associative thickening effect if high thickening power and high transparency are desired in the application. Preferably, the copolymer comprises copolymerized units of n-butyl acrylate.

The associative thickener according to the invention is characterized by a marked hydrotropic effect, i.e. it improves the solubility of substances which are only sparingly soluble in water. It is electrolyte-stable and exhibits no flocculations and/or sedimentation even in formulations with a high ionic strength.

Moreover, the copolymer can, if appropriate, comprise copolymerized units e) of an ethylenically polyunsaturated monomer.

Typically, the copolymer comprises

-   a) 10 to 75% by weight, preferably 20 to 50% by weight, of units of     the ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, -   b) 0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 10% by weight, of units of     the nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, -   c) 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 40% by weight, of units of     the C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylate, -   d) 5 to 85% by weight, preferably 15 to 70% by weight, of units of     C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate, and -   e) 0 to 9% by weight of units of the ethylenically polyunsaturated     monomer.

The ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is generally a monoethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Suitable ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids are selected, for example, from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid and maleic acid. Of these, methacrylic acid is particularly preferred.

Nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomers which are suitable as monomer b) are known per se. These are, for example,

-   (a) urethane-group-containing reaction products of a     monoethylenically unsaturated isocyanate and nonionic surfactants, -   (b) esters of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and     nonionic surfactants, -   (c) vinyl or allyl ethers of nonionic surfactants.

Suitable nonionic surfactants are preferably alkoxylated C₆-C₃₀-alcohols, such as fatty alcohol alkoxides or oxo alcohol alkoxides. At least 2, e.g. 2 to 100, preferably 3 to 20, mol of at least one C₂-C₄-alkylene oxide are used per mole of alcohol. Different alkylene oxide units can be arranged blockwise or be present in random distribution. Preferably, the alkylene oxide used is ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide.

A further class of suitable nonionic surfactants is alkylphenol ethoxides with C₆-C₁₄-alkyl chains and 5 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide units.

In preferred embodiments, the nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer has the general formula R—O—(CH₂—CHR′—O)_(n)—CO—CR″═CH₂ in which R is C₆-C₃₀-alkyl, preferably C₁-C₂₂-alkyl,

R′ is hydrogen or methyl, preferably hydrogen,

R″ is hydrogen or methyl, preferably methyl, and

n is an integer from 2 to 100, preferably 3 to 50.

The repeat units in the brackets are derived from ethylene oxide or propylene oxide.

The meaning of R′ is independent in each repeat unit from other repeat units. Different alkylene oxide units can be arranged blockwise or be present in random distribution.

Suitable C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylates are methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate, of which methyl methacrylate is particularly preferred.

Suitable C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylates are ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate and n-butyl acrylate. The type and amount of the C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylates are chosen such that a certain alkyl chain length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate units is established, as stated above. The average alkyl chain length is calculated by multiplying the number of carbons in the longest alkyl chain of the alkyl radical (i.e. for example 2 for ethyl and 4 for n-butyl) by the molar fraction of the alkyl acrylate of the total amount of the C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylates, and adding the individual contributions.

Preferably, the C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate comprises at least n-butyl acrylate, in particular a mixture of n-butyl acrylate with ethyl acrylate. Preferably, the copolymer comprises 5 to 85% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized units of n-butyl acrylate, where a range from more than 10% by weight to 60% by weight is preferred and a range from 15% by weight to 45% by weight is particularly preferred.

Ethylenically polyunsaturated monomers that can be used are, for example, ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, divinylbenzene and the like.

The copolymer is preferably a single-stage copolymer. The expression “single-stage copolymer” means that it essentially has a uniform composition over the individual polymer particles, i.e. it has no distinguishable domains, e.g. shells, with a different composition, as are obtained by stepwise polymerization of different monomer mixtures.

The aqueous dispersion generally comprises an anionic and/or a nonionic emulsifier.

Typical emulsifiers are anionic emulsifiers, such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium tridecyl ether sulfates, dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt and sodium salts of alkylaryl polyether sulfonates; and nonionic emulsifiers, such as, for example, alkylaryl polyether alcohols and ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers.

Preferred emulsifiers have the general formula R—O—(CH₂—CHR′—O)_(n)—X in which R is C₆-C₃₀-alkyl,

R′ is hydrogen or methyl,

X is hydrogen or SO₃M,

M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, and

n is an integer from 2 to 100.

The copolymer can be prepared in various ways, preferably by emulsion polymerization.

For the polymerization, a suitable polymerization initiator is used. Thermally activatable free-radical polymerization initiators are preferred.

Suitable thermally activatable free-radical initiators are primarily those of the peroxy and azo type. These include, inter alia, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, t-butyl hydroperoxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, benzoyl hydroperoxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(hydroperoxy)hexane, perbenzoic acid, t-butyl peroxypivalate, t-butyl peracetate, dilauroyl peroxide, dicapryloyl peroxide, distearoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, didecyl peroxydicarbonate, dieicosyl peroxydicarbonate, di-t-butyl perbenzoate, azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile, ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate and sodium perphosphate.

The persulfates (peroxodisulfates), in particular sodium persulfate, are most preferred.

While carrying out the emulsion polymerization, the initiator is used in an adequate amount to initiate the polymerization reaction. The initiator is usually used in an amount of from about 0.01 to 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers used. The amount of initiator is preferably about 0.05 to 2% by weight and in particular 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers used.

The emulsion polymerization usually takes place at 35 to 100° C. It can either be carried out as a batch process or else in the form of a feed method. Preference is given to the feed procedure in which at least some of the polymerization initiator and, if appropriate, some of the monomers are initially introduced and heated to the polymerization temperature, and then the remainder of the polymerization mixture is introduced via a plurality of separate feeds, of which one or more comprise the monomers in pure or emulsified form, continuously or stepwise while maintaining the polymerization. Preferably, the monomer feed takes place in the form of a monomer emulsion. In parallel to the monomer feed, a further polymerization initiator can be metered in.

In preferred embodiments, the entire amount of initiator is initially introduced, i.e. no further metered addition of initiator takes place in parallel to the monomer feed. It has surprisingly been found that this procedure leads to particularly high transparency of the associative thickener.

In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the thermally activatable free-radical polymerization initiator is initially introduced in its entirety, and the monomer mixture, preferably in the form of a monomer emulsion, is run in. Before the monomer mixture feed is started, the initial charge is brought to the activation temperature of the thermally activatable free-radical polymerization initiator or to a higher temperature. The activation temperature is regarded as being the temperature at which at least half the initiator has disintegrated after one hour.

According to another preferred type of preparation, the copolymer is obtained through polymerization of a monomer mixture in the presence of a redox initiator system. A redox initiator system comprises at least one oxidizing agent component and at least one reducing agent component, where, in the reaction medium, preferably heavy metal ions are additionally present as catalyst, for example cerium salts, manganese salts or iron(II) salts.

Suitable oxidizing agent components are, for example, peroxides and/or hydroperoxides, such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, pinane hydroperoxide, diisopropylphenyl hydroperoxide, dicyclohexyl percarbonate, dibenzoyl peroxide, dilauroyl peroxide and diacetyl peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide are preferred.

Suitable reducing agent components are alkali metal sulfites, alkali metal dithionites, alkali metal hyposulfites, sodium hydrogensulfite, Rongalit C (sodium formaldehyde sulfoxide), mono- and dihydroxyacetone, sugars (e.g. glucose or dextrose), ascorbic acid and its salts, acetone bisulfite adduct and/or an alkali metal salt of hydroxymethanesulfinic acid. Ascorbic acid is preferred.

Also suitable as reducing agent component or catalyst are iron(II) salts, such as, for example, iron(II) sulfate, tin(II) salts, such as, for example, tin(II) chloride, titanium(III) salts, such as titanium(III) sulfate.

The use amounts of oxidizing agent are 0.001 to 5.0% by weight, preferably from 0.005 to 1.0% by weight and particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers used. Reducing agents are used in amounts of from 0.001 to 2.0% by weight, preferably from 0.005 to 1.0% by weight and particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers used.

A particularly preferred redox initiator system is the system sodium peroxodisulfate/ascorbic acid, e.g. 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of sodium peroxodisulfate and 0.001 to 2.0% by weight of ascorbic acid, in particular 0.005 to 1.0% by weight of sodium peroxodisulfate and 0.005 to 1.0% by weight of ascorbic acid, particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of sodium peroxodisulfate and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of ascorbic acid.

A further particular redox initiator system is the system t-butyl hydroperoxide/hydrogen peroxide/ascorbic acid, e.g. 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of t-butyl hydroperoxide, 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of hydrogen peroxide and 0.001 to 2.0% by weight of ascorbic acid, in particular 0.005 to 1.0% by weight of t-butyl hydroperoxide, 0.005 to 1.0% by weight of hydrogen peroxide and 0.005 to 1.0% by weight of ascorbic acid, particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of t-butyl hydroperoxide, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of ascorbic acid.

In a preferred embodiment, a monomer mixture, preferably in the form of a monomer emulsion, is run into an aqueous initial charge which is heated to the polymerization temperature. In parallel to the monomer feed, at least times, an oxidizing agent component and a reducing agent component of the redox initiator system are run in. Preferably, some of the oxidizing agent component of the redox initiator system is initially introduced. If appropriate, some of the monomers can be initially introduced.

The copolymer dispersion can be subjected to a chemical deodorization. During the chemical deodorization, a further initiator, e.g. a redox initiator, is added after the end of the actual emulsion polymerization. Redox initiators suitable for the chemical deodorization comprise, as oxidizing component, for example at least one organic peroxide and/or hydroperoxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, pinane hydroperoxide, diisopropylphenyl hydroperoxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, dilauroyl peroxide and diacetyl peroxide and, as reducing component, for example iron(II) salts, alkali metal sulfites, ascorbic acid, acetonebisulfite adduct and/or an alkali metal salt of hydroxymethanesulfinic acid.

The copolymer dispersion generally has a solids content of from 25 to 40% by weight, in particular about 30% by weight.

In unneutralized form, the copolymer dispersion has a relatively low viscosity. It is therefore easy to handle and can be metered or circulated by pumping without problems. As a result of neutralization, e.g. to a pH of more than 5.5, preferably more than 6, in particular 8 to 10, the copolymer becomes soluble and the viscosity of the aqueous medium increases considerably. Suitable neutralizing agents are, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, amines, such as triethylamine, triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, and other alkaline materials.

The associative thickeners according to the invention are suitable as thickeners and/or rheology modifiers in coating compositions, formulations for the manufacture of textiles, for textile printing pastes, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sector, for paints, pigment slurries, for detergents and cleaners and in foods. Particular preference is given to the use in liquid detergents and cleaners.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a liquid detergent or cleaner composition, in particular a transparent liquid detergent or cleaner composition which comprises an associative thickener according to the invention in completely or partially neutralized form.

Besides the associative thickener, the liquid detergents or cleaners comprise surfactant(s), where anionic, nonionic, cationic and/or amphoteric surfactants can be used. From an applications point of view, preference is given to mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants. The total surfactant content of the liquid detergents or cleaners is preferably 5 to 60% by weight and particularly preferably 15 to 40% by weight, based on the total liquid detergent or cleaner.

The nonionic surfactants used are preferably alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and on average 1 to 12 mol of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, in which the alcohol radical can be linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2 position or can comprise linear and methyl-branched radicals in a mixture, as are usually present in oxo alcohol radicals. In particular, however, preference is given to alcohol ethoxylates with linear radicals from alcohols of native origin having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example from coconut alcohol, palm alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol or oleyl alcohol, and on average 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol. Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C₁₂-C₁₄-alcohols with 3 EO, 4 EO or 7 EO, C₉-C₁₁-alcohol with 7 EO, C₁₃-C₁₅-alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C₁₂-C₁₈-alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures of these, such as mixtures of C₁₂-C₁₄-alcohol having 3 EO and C₁₂-C₁₈-alcohol having 7 EO. The stated degrees of ethoxylation are statistical average values which may be an integer or a fraction for a specific product. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrowed homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, it is also possible to use fatty alcohols with more than 12 EO. Examples thereof are tallow fatty alcohol having 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO. It is also possible to use nonionic surfactants which comprise EO and PO groups together in the molecule. In this connection, it is possible to use block copolymers with EO-PO block units or PO-EO block units, but also EO-PO-EO copolymers or PO-EO-PO copolymers. It is of course also possible to use mixed alkoxylated nonionic surfactants in which EO and PO units are not blockwise, but in random distribution. Such products are obtainable through the simultaneous action of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide on fatty alcohols.

Moreover, further nonionic surfactants that can be used are also alkyl glycosides of the general formula (I) R′O(G)_(x)  (1) in which R¹ is a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, in particular 2-methyl-branched aliphatic radical having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms, and G is a glycoside unit with 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any desired number between 1 and 10; preferably, x is 1.2 to 1.4.

A further class of preferably used nonionic surfactants which are used either as the sole nonionic surfactant or in combination with other nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, in particular fatty acid methyl esters, as are described, for example, in the Japanese patent application JP 58/217598 or which are preferably prepared by the method described in the international patent application WO-A-90/13533.

Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-cocoalkyl-N,N-dimethyl-amine oxide and N-tallow-alkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide, and of the fatty acid alkanolamide type may also be suitable. The amount of these nonionic surfactants is preferably not more than that of the ethoxylated fatty alcohols, in particular not more than half thereof.

Further suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the formula (2),

in which R²C(═O) is an aliphatic acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R³ is hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Z] is a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known substances which can usually be obtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkylamine or an alkanolamine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride.

The group of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides also includes compounds of the formula (3)

in which R⁴ is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, R⁵ is a linear, branched or cyclic alkylene radical having 2 to 8 carbon atoms or an arylene radical having 6 to 8 carbon atoms and R⁶ is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical or an aryl radical or an oxy-alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, where C₁-C₄-alkyl or phenyl radicals are preferred, and [Z]¹ is a linear polyhydroxyalkyl radical whose alkyl chain is substituted by at least two hydroxyl groups, or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated derivatives of this radical. [Z]¹ is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a sugar, for example glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can then be converted to the desired polyhydroxy fatty acid amines, for example in accordance with WO-A-95/07331, through reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst.

The content of nonionic surfactants in the liquid detergents or cleaners is preferably 5 to 30% by weight, preferably 7 to 20% by weight and in particular 9 to 15% by weight, in each case based on the total composition.

The anionic surfactants used are, for example, those of the sulfonate and sulfate type. Suitable surfactants of the sulfonate type are preferably C₉-C₁₃-alkylbenzenesulfonates, olefinsulfonates, i.e. mixtures of alkene- and hydroxyalkanesulfonates, and also disulfonates, as are obtained, for example, from C₁₂-C₁₈-monoolefins with terminal or internal double bond by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products. Also suitable are alkane-sulfonates which are obtained from C₁₂-C₁₅-alkanes, for example by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation with subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization. Likewise, the esters of α-sulfo fatty acids (ester sulfonates), for example the α-sulfonated methyl esters of the hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel or tallow fatty acids, are also suitable.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are sulfated fatty acid glycerol esters. Fatty acid glycerol esters are to be understood as meaning the mono-, di- and triesters, and mixtures thereof, as are obtained in the preparation by esterification of a monoglycerol with 1 to 3 mol of fatty acid or during the transesterification of triglycerides with 0.3 to 2 mol of glycerol. Preferred sulfated fatty acid glycerol esters here are the sulfation products of saturated fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, for example of caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid.

The alk(en)yl sulfates are preferably the alkali metal and in particular the sodium salts of the sulfuric acid half-esters of C₁₂-C₁₈-fatty alcohols, for example of coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol or of the C₁₀-C₂₀-oxo alcohols and those half-esters of secondary alcohols of these chain lengths. Furthermore, preference is given to alk(en)yl sulfates of the specified chain length which comprise a synthetic, petrochemical-based straight-chain alkyl radical which have an analogous degradation behavior to the equivalent compounds based on fatty chemical raw materials. From a washing point of view, the C₁₂-C₁₆-alkyl sulfates and C₁₂-C₁₅-alkyl sulfates and also C₁₄-C₁₅-alkyl sulfates are preferred. 2,3-Alkyl sulfates, which are prepared, for example, in accordance with the US patent specifications U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,234,258 or 5,075,041 and can be obtained as commercial products from the Shell Oil Company under the name DAN®, are also suitable anionic surfactants.

The sulfuric acid monoesters of the straight-chain or branched C₁-C₂₁-alcohols ethoxylated with 1 to 6 mol of ethylene oxide, such as 2-methyl-branched C₉-C₁₁-alcohols with on average 3.5 mol of ethylene oxide (EO) or C₁₂-C₁₈-fatty alcohols with 1 to 4 EO, are also suitable. On account of their high foaming behavior, they are used in cleaners only in relatively small amounts, for example in amounts from 1 to 5% by weight.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are also the salts of alkylsulfosuccinic acid, which are also referred to as sulfosuccinates or as sulfosuccinic acid esters and which constitute monoesters and/or diesters of sulfosuccinic acid with alcohols, preferably fatty alcohols and in particular ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Preferred sulfosuccinates comprise C₈-C₁₈-fatty alcohol radicals or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred sulfosuccinates comprise a fatty alcohol radical derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols. In this connection, particular preference is in turn given to sulfosuccinates whose fatty alcohol radicals are derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a narrow homolog distribution. It is likewise also possible to use alk(en)ylsuccinic acid having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alk(en)yl chain or salts thereof.

Particularly preferred anionic surfactants are soaps. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acid soaps, such as the salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, (hydrogenated) erucic acid and behenic acid, and also soap mixtures derived in particular from natural fatty acids, for example coconut, palm kernel, olive oil or tallow fatty acids, are suitable.

The anionic surfactants including the soaps can be present in the form of their sodium, potassium or ammonium salts, and also as soluble salts of organic bases, such as mono-, di- or triethanolamine. Preferably, the anionic surfactants are present in the form of their sodium or potassium salts, in particular in the form of the sodium salts.

The content of anionic surfactants in preferred liquid detergents or cleaners is 2 to 30% by weight, preferably 4 to 25% by weight and in particular 5 to 22% by weight, in each case based on the total composition. It is particularly preferred that the amount of fatty acid soap is at least 2% by weight and particularly preferably at least 4% by weight and particularly preferably at least 6% by weight.

The viscosity of the liquid detergents or cleaners can be measured by means of customary standard methods (for example Brookfield viscometer LVT-II at 20 rpm and 20° C., spindle 3) and is preferably in the range from 100 to 5000 mPas. Preferred compositions have viscosities of from 300 to 4000 mPas, with values between 1000 and 3000 mPas being particularly preferred.

In addition to the associative thickener and the surfactant(s), the liquid detergents or cleaners can comprise further ingredients which further improve the application and/or esthetic properties of the liquid detergent or cleaner. As a rule, in addition to the associative thickener and surfactant(s), preferred compositions comprise one or more substances from the group of builders, bleaches, bleach activators, enzymes, electrolytes, nonaqueous solvents, pH extenders, fragrances, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, dyes, hydrotopes, foam inhibitors, silicone oils, antiredeposition agents, optical brighteners, graying inhibitors, antishrink agents, anticrease agents, color transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial active ingredients, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, antistatics, ironing aids, phobicization and impregnation agents, swelling and nonslip agents, and also UV absorbers.

Builders which may be present in the liquid detergents or cleaners are, in particular, silicates, aluminum silicates (in particular zeolites), carbonates, salts of organic di- and polycarboxylic acids, and mixtures of these substances.

Suitable low molecular weight polycarboxylates as organic builders are, for example:

C₄-C₂₀-di-, -tri- and -tetracarboxylic acids, such as, for example, succinic acid, propanetricarboxylic acid, butanetetracarboxylic acid, cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid and alkyl- and alkylenesuccinic acids with C₂-C₁₆-alkyl or -alkylene radicals;

C₄-C₂₀-hydyroxycarboxylic acids, such as, for example, malic acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, glutaric acid, citric acid, lactobionic acid and sucrose mono-, di- and -tricarboxylic acid;

aminopolycarboxylates, such as, for example, nitrilotriacetic acid, methylglycinediacetic acid, alaninediacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and serinediacetic acid; salts of phosphonic acids, such as, for example, hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid, ethylenediamine tetra(methylenephosphonate) and diethylenetriamine penta(methylenephosphate).

Suitable oligomeric or polymeric polycarboxylates as organic builders are, for example:

oligomaleic acids, as are described, for example, in EP-A 0 451 508 and EP-A 0 396 303;

co- and terpolymers of unsaturated C₄-C₈-dicarboxylic acids, where monoethylenically unsaturated monomers

from group (i) in amounts of up to 95% by weight

from group (ii) in amounts of up to 60% by weight

from group (iii) in amounts of up to 20% by weight

may be present in copolymerized form as comonomers.

Suitable unsaturated C₄-C₈-dicarboxylic acids here are, for example, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and citraconic acid (methylmaleic acid). Preference is given to maleic acid.

Group (i) comprises monoethylenically unsaturated C₃-C₈-monocarboxylic acids, such as, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid and vinylacetic acid. From group (i), preference is given to using acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.

Group (ii) comprises monoethylenically unsaturated C₂-C₂₂-olefins, vinyl alkyl ethers with C₁-C₈-alkyl groups, styrene, vinyl esters of C₁-C₈-carboxylic acid, (meth)acrylamide and vinylpyrrolidone. From group (ii), preference is given to using C₂-C₆-olefins, vinyl alkyl ethers with C₁-C₄-alkyl groups, vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate.

Group (iii) comprises (meth)acrylic esters of C₁-C₈-alcohols, (meth)acrylonitrile, (meth)acrylamides, (meth)acrylamides of C₁-C₈-amines, N-vinylformamide and vinylimidazole.

If the polymers of group (ii) comprise vinyl esters in copolymerized form, these may also be present in partially or completely hydrolyzed form to give vinyl alcohol structural units. Suitable co- and terpolymers are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,806 and SE-A 43 13 909.

Copolymers of dicarboxylic acids suitable as organic builders are preferably:

copolymers of maleic acid and acrylic acid in the weight ratio 10:90 to 95:5, particularly preferably those in the weight ratio 30:70 to 90:10 with molar masses of from 10 000 to 150 000;

terpolymers of maleic acid, acrylic acid and a vinyl ester of a C₁-C₃-carboxylic acid in the weight ratio 10(maleic acid):90(acrylic acid+vinyl ester) to 95(maleic acid):10(acrylic acid+vinyl ester), where the weight ratio of acrylic acid to vinyl ester can vary in the range from 20:80 to 80:20, and particularly preferably

terpolymers of maleic acid, acrylic acid and vinyl acetate or vinylpropionate in the weight ratio 20(maleic acid):80(acrylic acid+vinyl ester) to 90(maleic acid):10(acrylic acid+vinyl ester), where the weight ratio of acrylic acid to the vinyl ester can vary in the range from 30:70 to 70:30;

copolymers of maleic acid with C₂-C₈-olefins in the molar ratio 40:60 to 80:20, where copolymers of maleic acid with ethylene, propylene or isobutane in the molar ratio 50:50 are particularly preferred.

Graft polymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids on low molecular weight carbohydrates or hydrogenated carbohydrates, cf. U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,446, DE-A 44 15 623, DE-A 43 13 909, are likewise suitable as organic builders.

Suitable unsaturated carboxylic acids here are, for example, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid and vinylacetic acid, and also mixtures of acrylic acid and maleic acid which are grafted on in amounts of from 40 to 95% by weight, based on the component to be grafted.

For the modification, additionally up to 30% by weight, based on the component to be grafted, of further monoethylenically unsaturated monomers may be present in copolymerized form. Suitable modifying monomers are the abovementioned monomers in groups (ii) and (iii).

Suitable graft bases are degraded polysaccharides, such as, for example, acidically or enzymatically degraded starches, inulins or cellulose, reduced (hydrogenated or reductively aminated) degraded polysaccharides, such as, for example, mannitol, sorbitol, aminosorbitol and glucamine, and also polyalkylene glycols with molar masses up to Mw=5000, such as, for example, polyethylene glycols, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide or ethylene oxide/butylene oxide block copolymers, random ethylene oxide/propylene oxide or ethylene oxide/butylene oxide copolymers, alkoxylated mono- or polybasic C₁-C₂₂-alcohols, cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,456.

From this group, preference is given to using grafted degraded or degraded reduced starches and grafted polyethylene oxides, where 20 to 80% by weight of monomers, based on the graft component, are used in the graft polymerization. For the grafting, preference is given to using a mixture of maleic acid and acrylic acid in the weight ratio of from 90:10 to 10:90.

Polyglyoxylic acids as organic builders are described, for example, in EP-B 0 001 004, U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,286, DE-A 41 06 355 and EP-A 0 656 914. The end groups of the polyglyoxylic acids can have different structures.

Polyamidocarboxylic acids and modified polyamidocarboxylic acids as organic builders are known, for example, from EP-A 0 454 126, EP-B 0 511 037, WO-A 94/01486 and EP-A 0 581 452.

Preferably, the organic builders used are also polyaspartic acid or cocondensates of aspartic acid with further amino acids, C₄-C₂₅-mono- or -dicarboxylic acids and/or C₄-C₂₅-mono- or -diamines. Particular preference is given to using polyaspartic acids modified with C₆-C₂₂-mono- or -dicarboxylic acids or with C₆-C₂₂-mono- or -diamines and prepared in phosphorus-containing acids.

Condensation products of citric acid with hydroxycarboxylic acids or polyhydroxy compounds as organic builders are known, for example, from WO-A 93/22362 and WO-A 92/16493. Carboxyl-group-comprising condensates of this type usually have molar masses up to 10 000, preferably up to 5000.

Among the compounds which produce H₂O₂ in water and can serve as bleaches, sodium perborate tetrahydrate and sodium perborate monohydrate have particular importance. Further bleaches that can be used are, for example, sodium percarbonate, peroxypyrophosphates, citrate perhydrates, and peracidic salts or peracids that produce H₂O₂, such as perbenzoates, peroxophthalates, diperazelaic acid, phthaliminoper acid or diperdodecanedioic acid.

In order to achieve an improved bleaching effect during washing at temperatures of 60° C. and below, bleach activators can be incorporated into the detergents or cleaners. Bleach activators which can be used are compounds which, under perhydrolysis conditions, produce aliphatic peroxocarboxylic acids having preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, in particular 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and/or optionally substituted perbenzoic acid. Substances which carry O- and/or N-acyl groups of the specified number of carbon atoms and/or optionally substituted benzyl groups are suitable. Preference is given to polyacylated alkylenediamines, in particular tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), acylated triazine derivatives, in particular 1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (DADHT), acylated glycolurils, in particular tetraacetylglycoluril (TAGU), N-acylimides, in particular N-nonanoylsuccinimide (NOSI), acylated phenolsulfonates, in particular n-nonanoyl or isononanoyl oxybenzenesulfonate (n- or iso-NOBS), carboxylic acid anhydrides, in particular phthalic anhydride, acylated polyhydric alcohols, in particular triacetin, ethylene glycol diacetate and 2,5-diacetoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran.

In addition to the conventional bleach activators, or instead of them, it is also possible to incorporate so-called bleach catalysts into the liquid detergents or cleaners. These substances are bleach-boosting transition metal salts or transition metal complexes, such as, for example, Mn-, Fe-, Co-, Ru- or Mo-salene complexes or -carbonyl complexes. It is also possible to use Mn, Fe, Co, Ru, Mo, Ti, V and Cu complexes with nitrogen-containing tripod ligands, and also Co-, Fe-, Cu- and Ru-amine complexes as bleach catalysts.

Suitable enzymes are in particular those from the classes of the hydrolases, such as the proteases, esterases, lipases or lipolytic enzymes, amylases, cellulases and other glycosyl hydrolases and mixtures of said enzymes. All of these hydrolases contribute during washing to the removal of stains such as protein-, fat- or starch-containing stains and graying. Cellulases and other glycosyl hydrolases can moreover contribute to the color retention and to increasing the softness of the textile by removing pilling and microfibrils. Oxyreductases can also be used for the bleaching or for the inhibition of color transfer. Enzymatic active ingredients obtained from bacterial strains or fungi such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyceus griseus and Humicola insolens are particularly well suited. Preference is given to using proteases of the subtilisin type and in particular proteases which are obtained from Bacillus lentus. Here, enzyme mixtures, for example of protease and amylase or protease and lipase or lipolytic enzymes or protease and cellulase or of cellulase and lipase or lipolytic enzymes or of protease, amylase and lipase or lipolytic enzymes or protease, lipase or lipolytic enzymes and cellulase, but in particular protease and/or lipase-containing mixtures or mixtures with lipolytic enzymes are of particular interest. Examples of such lipolytic enzymes are the known cutinases. Peroxidases or oxidases have also proven suitable in some cases. Suitable amylases include, in particular, α-amylases, isoamylases, pullulanases and pectinases. The cellulases used are preferably cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases and β-glucosidases, which are also called cellobiases, or mixtures of these. Since different types of cellulase differ in their CMCase and avicelase activities, the desired activities can be established through targeted mixtures of the cellulases.

The enzymes can be adsorbed to carriers in order to protect them against premature decomposition. The fraction of the enzyme, enzyme mixtures or enzyme granules can be, for example, about 0.1 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.12 to about 2.5% by weight.

A broad number of highly diverse salts can be used as electrolytes from the group of inorganic salts. Preferred cations are the alkali and alkaline earth metals, preferred anions are the halides and sulfates. From the point of view of production, the use of NaCl or MgCl₂ in the compositions is preferred. The fraction of electrolytes in the compositions is usually 0.5 to 5% by weight.

Nonaqueous solvents which can be used in the liquid detergents or cleaners originate, for example, from the group of mono- or polyhydric alcohols, alkanolamines or glycol ethers, provided they are miscible with water in the stated concentration range. Preferably, the solvents are selected from ethanol, n- or isopropanol, butanols, glycol, propane- or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl or butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl, ethyl or propyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl or -ethyl ether, diisopropylene glycol monomethyl or -ethyl ether, methoxy-, ethoxy- or butoxytriglycol, isobutoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, and mixtures of these solvents. Nonaqueous solvents can be used in the liquid detergents or cleaners in amounts between 0.5 and 15% by weight, but preferably below 12% by weight and in particular below 9% by weight.

In order to bring the pH of the liquid detergents or cleaners into the desired range, the use of pH extenders may be appropriate. All known acids or alkalis can be used here, provided their use is not precluded for applications-related or ecological reasons or for reasons of consumer protection. Usually, the amount of these extenders does not exceed 7% by weight of the total formulation.

In order to improve the esthetic impression of the liquid detergents or cleaners, they can be colored with suitable dyes. Preferred dyes, the selection of which presents no difficulties at all to the person skilled in the art, have a high storage stability and insensitivity toward the other ingredients of the compositions and to light, and also no marked substantivity toward textile fibers, in order not to stain these.

Suitable foam inhibitors which can be used in the liquid detergents or cleaners are, for example, soaps, paraffins or silicone oils, which can if appropriate be applied to carrier materials.

Suitable antiredeposition agents, which are also referred to as soil repellents, are, for example, nonionic cellulose ethers, such as methylcellulose and methylhydroxypropyl-cellulose with a fraction of methoxy groups of from 15 to 30% by weight and of hydroxypropyl groups of from 1 to 15% by weight, in each case based on the nonionic cellulose ethers. Suitable soil release polymers are, for example, polyesters of polyethylene oxides with ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol and aromatic dicarboxylic acids or aromatic and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids; polyesters of polyethylene oxides that are terminally kept at one end with di- and/or polyhydric alcohols and dicarboxylic acid, in particular polymers of ethylene terephthalates and/or polyethylene glycol terephthalates or anionically and/or nonionically modified derivatives of these. Of these, particular preference is given to the sulfonated derivatives of phthalic acid polymers and terephthalic acid polymers. Polyesters of this type are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,039, GB-A 11 54 730, EP-A 0 185 427, EP-A 0 241 984, EP-A 0 241 985, EP-A 0 272 033 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,020. Further suitable soil release polymers are amphiphilic graft polymers or copolymers of vinyl and/or acrylic esters on polyalkylene oxides (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,456, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,995, DE-A 37 11 299, U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,408, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,994 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,126) or modified celluloses, such as, for example, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose or carboxymethyl-cellulose.

Optical brighteners (so-called whiteners) can be added to the liquid detergents or cleaners in order to eliminate graying and yellowing of the treated textile fabrics. These substances attach to the fibers and bring about a brightening and quasi bleaching effect by converting invisible ultraviolet radiation into visible longer-wave light, where the ultraviolet light absorbed from the sunlight is emitted as pale bluish fluorescence and produces pure white with the yellow shade of grayed and/or yellowed laundry. Suitable compounds originate, for example, from the substance classes of the 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acids (flavonic acids), 4,4′-distyrylbiphenylene, methylumbelliferones, coumarins, dihydroquinolinones, 1,3-diarylpyrazolines, naphthalimides, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole and benzimidazole systems, and the pyrene derivatives substituted by heterocycles. The optical brighteners are usually used in amounts between 0.03 and 0.3% by weight, based on the finished composition.

Graying inhibitors have the task of keeping the dirt detached from the fibers suspended in the liquor and thus preventing reattachment of the dirt. Of suitability for this purpose are water-soluble colloids mostly of an organic nature, for example glue, gelatin, salts of ether sulfonic acids of starch or of cellulose or salts of acidic sulfuric acid esters of cellulose or of starch. Water-soluble polyamides comprising acidic groups are also suitable for this purpose. Furthermore, soluble starch preparations and starch products other than those mentioned above can be used, for example degraded starch, aldehyde starches, etc. It is also possible to use polyvinylpyrrolidone. However, preference is given to using cellulose ethers, such as carboxymethylcellulose (Na salt), methylcellulose, hydroxyalkylcellulose and mixed ethers, such as methylhydroxy-ethylcellulose, methyl hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcarboxymethylcellulose and mixtures thereof in amounts of from 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the compositions.

Since textile fabrics, in particular made of rayon, viscose rayon, cotton and mixtures thereof can have a tendency to crease because the individual fibers are sensitive to bending, folding, pressing and squeezing at right angles to the fiber direction, the compositions can comprise synthetic anticrease agents. These include, for example, synthetic products based on fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid amides, fatty alkylol esters, fatty alkylolamides or fatty alcohols, which are mostly reacted with ethylene oxide, or products based on lecithin or modified phosphoric acid esters.

To control microorganisms, the liquid detergents or cleaners can comprise antimicrobial active ingredients. A distinction is made here, depending on the antimicrobial spectrum and action mechanism, between bacteriostats and bactericides, fungistats and fungicides etc. Important substances from these groups are, for example, benzalkonium chlorides, alkylarylsulfonates, halophenols and phenol mercuriacetate.

In order to prevent undesired changes in the liquid detergents or cleaners and/or the treated textile fabrics caused by the effect of oxygen and other oxidative processes, the compositions can comprise antioxidants. This class of compound includes, for example, substituted phenols, hydroquinones, pyrocatechins and aromatic amines, and also organic sulfides, polysulfides, dithiocarbamates, phosphites and phosphonates.

Increased wear comfort can result from the additional use of antistats which are additionally added to the compositions. Antistats increase the surface conductivity and thus permit an improved discharging of charges formed. External antistats are generally substances with at least one hydrophilic molecule ligand and produce a more or less hygroscopic film on the surfaces. These mostly interface-active antistats can be divided into nitrogen-containing antistats (amines, amides, quaternary ammonium compounds), phosphorus-containing antistats (phosphoric acid esters) and sulfur-containing antistats (alkylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates). External antistats are described, for example, in the patent applications FR 1,156,513, GB 873 214 and GB 839 407. The lauryl(or stearyl)dimethylbenzylammonium chlorides disclosed here are suitable as antistats for textile fabrics and as additive for detergents where a hand-modifying effect is additionally achieved.

To improve the water absorption capacity, the rewettability of the treated textile fabrics and to facilitate ironing of the treated textile fabrics, silicone derivatives, for example, can be used in the liquid detergents or cleaners. These additionally improve the wash-out behavior of the compositions through their foam-inhibiting properties. Preferred silicone derivatives are, for example, polydialkyl- or alkylarylsiloxanes in which the alkyl groups have 1 to 5 carbon atoms and are partially or completely fluorinated. Preferred silicones are polydimethylsiloxanes which can, if appropriate, be derivatized and then are aminofunctional or quaternized or have Si—OH, Si—H and/or Si—Cl bonds. The viscosities of the preferred silicones at 25° C. are in the range between 100 and 100 000 mPas, it being possible to use these silicones in amounts between 0.2 and 5% by weight, based on the total composition.

Finally, the liquid detergents or cleaners can also comprise UV absorbers which attach to the treated textile fabrics and improve the photostability of the fibers. Compounds which have these desired properties are, for example, the compounds and derivatives of benzophenone with substituents in the 2 and/or 4 position that are effective as a result of nonradiative deactivation. Furthermore, substituted benzotriazoles, acrylates phenyl-substituted in the 3 position (cinnamic acid derivatives), if appropriate with cyano groups in the 2 position, salicylates, organic Ni complexes, and natural substances such as umbelliferone and the endogenous urocanic acid are also suitable.

In order to avoid the decomposition of certain detergent ingredients catalyzed by heavy metals, it is possible to use substances which complex heavy metals. Suitable heavy metal complexing agents are, for example, the alkali metal salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) or methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), and also alkali metal salts of anionic polyelectrolytes such as polymaleates and polysulfonates.

A preferred class of complexing agents is the phosphonates, which are present in preferred liquid detergents or cleaners in amounts of from 0.01 to 2.5% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 2% by weight and in particular from 0.03 to 1.5% by weight. These preferred compounds include, in particular, organophosphonates, such as, for example, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), aminotri(methylene-phosphonic acid) (ATMP), diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid) (DTPMP or DETPMP), and also 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBS-AM), which are mostly used in the form of their ammonium or alkali metal salts.

The resulting aqueous liquid detergents or cleaners have no sediment; in a preferred embodiment, they are transparent or at least translucent. Preferably, the aqueous liquid detergents or cleaners have a visible light transmission of at least 30%, preferably 50%, particularly preferably 75%, most preferably 90%. Alternatively, the thickeners according to the invention can be incorporated into opaque detergents or cleaners.

Besides these constituents, an aqueous detergent or cleaner can comprise dispersed particles, the diameter of which along their largest spatial expansion is 0.01 to 10 000 μm.

Particles may be microcapsules as well as granules, compounds and scented beads, with microcapsules being preferred.

The term “microcapsules” is understood as meaning aggregates which comprise at least one solid or liquid core which is surrounded by at least one continuous sheath, in particular a sheath made of polymer(s). Usually, these are finely dispersed liquid or solid phases surrounded by film-forming polymers, during the production of which the polymers, following emulsification and coacervation or interfacial polymerization, precipitate on to the material to be enveloped. The microscopically small capsules can be dried like powders. Besides single-core microcapsules, multicore aggregates are also known, also called microspheres, which comprise two or more cores in the continuous coating material. Single-core or multicore microcapsules can additionally be surrounded by an additional second, third etc. sheath. Preference is given to single-core microcapsules with a continuous sheath. The sheath can consist of natural, semisynthetic or synthetic materials. Natural sheath materials are, for example, gum arabic, agar agar, agarose, maltodextrins, alginic acid and its salts, e.g. sodium alginate or calcium alginate, fats and fatty acids, cetyl alcohol, collagen, chitosan, lecithins, gelatin, albumin, shellac, polysaccharides, such as starch or dextran, sucrose and waxes. Semisynthetic coating materials are, inter alia, chemically modified celluloses, in particular cellulose esters and ethers, e.g. cellulose acetate, ethyl-cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose, and also starch derivatives, in particular starch ethers and esters. Synthetic coating materials are, for example, polymers, such as polyacrylates, polyamides, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone. In the interior of the microcapsules, sensitive, chemically or physically incompatible as well as volatile components (=active ingredients) of the aqueous liquid detergent or cleaner can be enclosed in a storage-stable and transport-stable manner. For example, optical brighteners, surfactants, complexing agents, bleaches, bleach activators, dyes and fragrances, antioxidants, builders, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, antimicrobial active ingredients, graying inhibitors, antiredeposition agents, pH extenders, electrolytes, foam inhibitors and UV absorbers may be present in the microcapsules.

The microcapsules can also comprise cationic surfactants, vitamins, proteins, preservatives, detergency boosters or pearlizing agents. The fillings of the microcapsules can be solids or liquids in the form of solutions or emulsions or suspensions.

The microcapsules can have any desired form within the scope of manufacture, but are preferably approximately spherical. Their diameter along their largest spatial expansion can be between 0.01 μm (not visually recognizable as capsules) and 10 000 μm depending on the components present in their interior and the application. Preference is given to visible microcapsules with a diameter in the range from 100 μm to 7000 μm, in particular from 400 μm to 5000 μm. The microcapsules are accessible by known methods, with coacervation and interfacial polymerization being attributed the greatest importance. Microcapsules which can be used are all of the surfactant-stable microcapsules supplied on the market, for example the commercial products (the coating material is given in each in brackets) Hallcrest Microcapsules (gelatin, gum arabic), Coletica Thalaspheres (maritime collagen), Lipotec Millicapsules (alginic acid, agar agar), Induchem Unispheres (lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose); Unicerin C₃₀ (lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose), Kobo Glycospheres (modified starch, fatty acid esters, phospholipids), Softspheres (modified agar agar) and Kuhs Probiol Nanospheres (phospholipids).

Alternatively, it is also possible to use particles which do not have a core-sheath structure, but in which the active ingredient is distributed in a matrix of a matrix-forming material. Such particles are also referred to as “speckies”.

A preferred matrix-forming material is alginate. To produce alginate-based speckies, an aqueous alginate solution, which also comprises the active ingredient to be enclosed or the active ingredients to be enclosed, is dripped and then hardened in a precipitating bath comprising Ca²⁺ ions or Al³⁺ ions.

Alternatively, instead of alginate, other matrix-forming materials can be used. Examples of matrix-forming materials comprise polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polymethacrylate, polylysine, poloxamer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polyethylene oxide, polyethoxyoxazoline, albumin, gelatin, acacia, chitosan, cellulose, dextran, Ficoll®, starch, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hyaluronic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethyl-cellulose, deacetylated chitosan, dextran sulfate and derivatives of these materials. The matrix formation takes place for these materials for example via gelling, polyanion-polycation interactions or polyelectrolyte-metal ion interactions. The preparation of particles with these matrix-forming materials is known per se.

The particles can be stably dispersed in the aqueous liquid detergents or cleaners. Stable means that the compositions are stable at room temperature and at 40° C. over a period of at least 4 weeks and preferably of at least 6 weeks without the composition creaming up or sedimenting. The thickeners according to the invention bring about, through the increase in viscosity, a kinetic slowing of the sedimentation of the particles and thus their stabilization in the suspended state.

The release of the active ingredients from the microcapsules or speckies usually takes place during the application of the compositions comprising them through decomposition of the sheath or the matrix as a result of mechanical, thermal, chemical or enzymatic action.

The detergents or cleaners according to the invention can be used for the cleaning of textile fabrics and/or hard surfaces. Cleaners according to the invention can be in the form of a hand or machine dishwashing detergent, all-purpose cleaner for nontextile surfaces, e.g. made of metal, painted wood or plastic, or cleaner for ceramic products, such as porcelain, tiles. The detergents or cleaners may be formulated as liquids or pastes.

To prepare the liquid detergents or cleaners, the surfactants, the associative thickener and the optional components can be combined with one another in any desired order. For example, the acidic components, such as, for example, the linear alkylsulfonates, citric acid, boric acid, phosphonic acid, the fatty alcohol ether sulfates, etc. can be initially introduced, and the nonionic surfactants added thereto. Then, a base, such as, for example, NaOH, KOH, triethanolamine or monoethanolamine, followed by the fatty acid, if present, is added. Subsequently, the remaining ingredients and the solvents of the aqueous liquid detergent or cleaner are added to the mixture. Then, the associative thickener according to the invention is added and, if appropriate, the pH is corrected, e.g. to a value of from 8 to 9.5.

A particular advantage of the associative thickeners according to the invention is that they are suitable for subsequent incorporation into a detergent or cleaner preformulation (post addition). Subsequent incorporation of the thickener dispersion simplifies the production run and is advantageous since the detergents or cleaners only achieve a high viscosity at a later stage of their preparation. It permits an accurate viscosity adjustment. Since the handling, e.g. circulation by pumping, mixing or homogenization, of low viscosity liquids takes place more quickly and more easily, the low viscosity preformulation can be prepared with a shorter batch time and lower energy expenditure.

Usually, the subsequent incorporation of thickeners can result in increased incompatibilities with the other constituents of the detergents or cleaners, which may lead to an unsatisfactory build-up in viscosity and/or impaired transparency. Surprisingly, incompatibilities of this type do not arise with the associative thickeners according to the invention.

If appropriate, finally, particles to be dispersed can be added and, through mixing, homogeneously dispersed in the aqueous liquid detergent or cleaner.

The invention is illustrated in more detail by the examples below.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

The copolymer preparation was carried out according to the method described below. The resulting aqueous polymer dispersion comprised the copolymers in their acid form.

In a stirred apparatus consisting of a 4 liter HWS vessel with anchor stirrer (150 rpm), reflux condenser, internal thermosensor and metering station, 736.73 g of demineralized water (dem. water) and 10.71 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO (sodium lauryl ether sulfate; 28% strength in water) were mixed as the initial charge.

At 75° C., 4.23 g of a 7% strength aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution were added to this solution and the mixture was stirred at 75° C. for 5 minutes. Then, at 75° C. and with further stirring, an emulsion consisting of 457.04 g of completely demineralized water (dem. water), the monomers (183.67 g of methacrylic acid and 360 g of ethyl acrylate, 15 g of Lutensol AT 25 Methacrylate [=(C₁₆₋₁₈)-(EO)₂₅ methacrylate], 45 g of methyl methacrylate) and 10.71 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water was uniformly metered in over the course of 2 hours, and at the same time, 12.06 g of 7% strength aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution were uniformly metered in over the course of 2 hours.

Then, the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 1 hour at 75° C. and then brought to room temperature. At room temperature, 0.3 g of a 4% strength Dissolvine E-FE-6 solution (iron(II) salt solution) and 12 g of a 5% strength hydrogen peroxide solution were added, and 90 g of a 1% strength ascorbic acid solution was uniformly metered in over the course of 30 min. This gave an aqueous polymer dispersion with a solids content of 31%.

The associative thickener dispersions as in comparative example 2 and 3 listed in table 1 below were prepared analogously.

Example 1

In a stirred apparatus consisting of a 4 liter HWS vessel with anchor stirrer (150 rpm), reflux condenser, internal thermosensor and metering station, 736.73 g of demineralized water (dem. water) and 10.71 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water were mixed as the initial charge.

At 75° C., 4.23 g of a 7% strength aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution were added to this solution and the mixture was stirred at 75° C. for 5 minutes. Then, at 75° C. and with further stirring, the emulsion consisting of 457.04 g of completely demineralized water (dem. water), the monomers (183.67 g of methacrylic acid and 300 g of ethyl acrylate, 60 g of n-butyl acrylate, 15 g of Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate, 45 g of methyl methacrylate) and 10.71 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water was uniformly metered in over 2 hours, and at the same time 12.06 g of 7% strength aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution were uniformly metered in over 2 hours (combined emulsion and NaPS feed). Then, the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 1 hour at 75° C. and then brought to room temperature. At room temperature, 0.3 g of a 4% strength Dissolvene E-FE-6 solution and 12 g of a 5% strength hydrogen peroxide solution were added, and 90 g of a 1% strength ascorbic acid solution were uniformly metered in over 30 min. This gave an aqueous polymer dispersion with a solids content of 31%.

The other associative thickener dispersions, example 2 to example 9, listed in table 1 below, were prepared analogously where the increased content of the hydrophobic monomer butyl acrylate was introduced at the expense of the ethyl acrylate. The quantitative data for the feed materials are given in parts per 100 reactive monomer parts (parts per 100 monomers; pphm). To characterize the dispersion, the following values were measured:

Solids content: the dispersion was dried for 30 min at 140° C. and the solids content was determined as a percentage from the ratio of dry residue to initial weight.

Particle size: the dispersion was diluted to 0.01% and the particle size was measured by means of light scattering in the High Performance Particle Sizer 5001 (HPPS) from Malvern Instruments.

LT value: the dispersion was diluted to 0.01% and the light transmission (LT) of the dispersion was measured optically in the Hach DR/2010 compared to pure water as a measure of the particle size.

TABLE 1 Thickener dispersion Comparison 1 Comparison 2 Comparison 3 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 n-Butyl acrylate (pphm) 0 0 0 10 15 20 30 Ethyl acrylate (pphm) 60 60 60 50 45 40 30 Methacrylic acid (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate 25% 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 strength in MMA (pphm) Texapon NSO 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 initial charge/E feed (pphm) NaPS initial charge (pphm) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 NaPS feed (pphm) 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 Polymerization temp. (° C.) 75 90 80 75 75 75 75 Emulsion feed time 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 (h) Solids content (%) 30.2 30.2 30.0 30.4 30.1 30.5 30.5 Particle size (nm) 66 61 66 62 67 63 59 LT - 0.01% strength (%) 98 98 98 98 97 98 98 Thickener dispersion Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Example 9 n-Butyl acrylate (pphm) 45 60 15 15 15 Ethyl acrylate (pphm) 15 0 45 45 45 Methacrylic acid (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate 25% 10 10 10 10 10 strength in MMA (pphm) Texapon NSO 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 initial charge/E feed (pphm) NaPS initial charge (pphm) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 NaPS feed (pphm) 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.1 Polymerization temp. (° C.) 75 75 75 70 75 Emulsion feed time 2 2 5 6 6 (h) Solids content (%) 29.9 29.8 30.1 30.5 30.3 Particle size (nm) 75 79 65 68 56 LT - 0.01% strength (%) 96 97 99 97 98

Example 10

In a stirred apparatus consisting of a 4 liter HWS vessel with anchor stirrer (150 rpm), reflux condenser, internal thermosensor and metering station, 1129.41 g of demineralized water (dem. water) and 19.11 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water were mixed as the initial charge.

At 75° C., a fraction of 25.99 g of a 7% strength aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution was added to this solution and the mixture was stirred at 75° C. for 5 minutes. Then, at 75° C. and with further stirring, the emulsion consisting of 1000 g of completely demineralized water (dem. water), the monomers (327.55 g of methacrylic acid and 321 g of ethyl acrylate, 321 g of n-butyl acrylate, 26.75 g of Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate, 80.25 g of methyl methacrylate), the emulsifiers (38.21 g of Texapon NSO 28% strength in water) was uniformly metered in over 2 hours. Then, the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 1 hour at 75° C. and then brought to room temperature.

At room temperature, 0.54 g of a 4% strength Dissolvine E-FE-6 solution and 21.4 g of a 5% strength hydrogen peroxide solution were added, and 160.5 g of a 1% strength ascorbic acid solution were uniformly metered in over 30 min. This gave an aqueous polymer dispersion with a solids content of 31%.

The other associative thickener dispersions as in Example 11 to Example 16 listed in table 2 below were prepared analogously.

TABLE 2 Thickener dispersion Example 10 Example 11 Example 12 Example 13 Example 14 Example 15 Example 16 n-Butyl acrylate (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Ethyl acrylate (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Methacrylic acid (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate 25% 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 strength in MMA (pphm) Texapon NSO 0.5/1 0.5/1 0.5/1 0.5/1 0.5/1 0.5/1 0.5/1 initial charge/E feed (pphm) NaPS initial charge (pphm) 0.19 0.15 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 NaPS feed (pphm) Initial charge conc. (%) 0.47 0.46 0.4 0.35 0.3 0.75 1 Polymerization temp. (° C.) 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 Solids content (%) 31.1 30.9 30.7 30.9 30.9 30.9 30.9 Particle size (nm) 61 60 61 59 56 68 71 LT - 0.01% strength (%) 97 97 98 95 98 97 97

Example 17

In a stirred apparatus consisting of a 4 liter HWS vessel with anchor stirrer (150 rpm), reflux condenser, internal thermosensor and metering station, 250.5 g of demineralized water (dem. water), 8.93 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water and 0.63 g of a 4% strength Dissolvine E-FE-6 solution (iron(II) salt solution) in water were mixed as the initial charge. The initial charge is flushed with nitrogen.

At 70° C., 5 g of a 5% strength hydrogen peroxide solution and 3 g of a 0.25% strength aqueous ascorbic acid solution were added to this solution and the mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 5 minutes. Then, at 70° C. and with further stirring, an emulsion of 1098.86 g of dem. water, monomers (153.06 g of methacrylic acid, 75 g of ethyl acrylate, 225 g of n-butyl acrylate, 12.5 g of Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate [=(C₁₆₋₁₈)-(EO)₂₅ methacrylate], 37.5 g of methyl methacrylate) and 8.93 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water was uniformly metered in over 4 hours. At the same time, 16 g of a 2.5% strength t-butyl hydroperoxide solution and 27 g of a 0.25% strength aqueous ascorbic acid solution were uniformly metered in over 4.25 hours. The reaction mixture was then stirred for a further 15 minutes at 70° C. and then brought to room temperature.

At room temperature, 10 g of a 5% strength hydrogen peroxide solution were added and 75 g of a 1% strength ascorbic acid solution were uniformly metered in over 30 minutes. This gave an aqueous polymer dispersion with a solids content of about 25%.

The other associative thickener dispersions as in Example 18 to Example 22 listed in Table 3 below were prepared analogously where, in Examples 20 to 22, the t-butyl hydroperoxide solution feed was started 15 minutes after the start of the monomer emulsion and ascorbic acid feed and was uniformly metered in over 4 hours.

TABLE 3 Example 17 GK1355/ Example 18 Example 19 Example 20 Example 21 Example 22 Thickener dispersion 1896 1892 1893 1901 1904 1905 n-Butyl acrylate (pphm) 45 15 30 15 15 15 Ethyl acrylate (pphm) 15 45 30 45 45 45 Methacrylic acid (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate 25% 10 10 10 10 10 10 strength in MMA (pphm) Texapon NSO 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 initial charge/E feed (pphm) Hydrogen peroxide (pphm) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.1 t-Butyl hydroperoxide (pphm) 0.075 0.075 0.075 0.075 0.050 0.025 Ascorbic acid (pphm) 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015 Polymerization temp. (° C.) 70 70 70 70 70 70 Solids content (%) 24.0 24.4 24.5 24.3 25.0 24.7 Particle size (nm) 82 79 72 66 76 74 LT - 0.01% strength (%) 96 96 97 99 97 97

Example 23

In a stirred apparatus consisting of a 4 liter HWS vessel with anchor stirrer (150 rpm), reflux condenser, internal thermosensor and metering station, 715.66 g of demineralized water (dem. water) and 10.71 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water were mixed as the initial charge. The initial charge was flushed with nitrogen.

At 60° C., a fraction of 12 g of a 2.5% strength aqueous sodium peroxide disulfate solution was added to this solution and the mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 5 minutes. Then, at 60° C. and with further stirring, an emulsion of 457.04 g of dem. water, monomers (183.67 g of methacrylic acid, 270 g of ethyl acrylate, 90 g of n-butyl acrylate, 15 g of Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate [=(C₁₆₋₁₈)-(EO)₂₅ methacrylate], 45 g of methyl methacrylate) and 10.71 g of emulsifier Texapon NSO 28% strength in water was uniformly metered in over 2 hours, and at the same time 12 g of a 2.5% strength aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution (monomer feed and sodium peroxodisulfate combined) and 12 g of a 1% strength aqueous ascorbic acid solution were uniformly metered in over 3 hours. Then, the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 30 minutes at 60° C. and then brought to room temperature.

At room temperature, 0.3 g of a 4% strength Dissolvine E-FE-6 solution (iron(II) salt solution) and 12 g of a 5% strength hydrogen peroxide solution were added, and 90 g of a 1% strength ascorbic acid solution were uniformly metered in over 30 minutes. This gave an aqueous polymer dispersion with a solids content of about 31%.

The other associative thickener dispersions as in Example 24 to Example . . . listed in Table 4 below were prepared analogously.

TABLE 4 Example 23 GK1355/ Example 24 Example 25 Example 26 Example 27 Example 28 Thickener dispersion 1888 1884 1859 1882 1881 1880 n-Butyl acrylate (pphm) 15 15 15 15 15 15 Ethyl acrylate (pphm) 45 45 45 45 45 45 Methacrylic acid (pphm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 Lutensol AT 25 methacrylate 25% 10 10 10 10 10 10 strength in MMA (pphm) Texapon NSO 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5 initial charge/E feed (pphm) NaPS initial charge/feed (pphm) 0.05/0.05 0.04/0.11 0.05/0.14 0.07/0.21 0.11/0.31 0.02/0.17 Ascorbic acid (pphm) 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 Polymerization temp. (° C.) 60 60 60 60 60 70 Solids content (%) 30.4 30.3 29.7 30.2 30.1 29.4 Particle size (nm) 75 66 69 75 86 65 LT - 0.01% strength (%) 97 98 98 97 95 97

Preparation of a Liquid Detergent

The following stock formulations were prepared (% by weight, based on the finished formulation):

Formulation 1 Formulation 2 Lutensit A-LBS (99%; linear 17.92 13.44 alkylsulfonate in acid form) Lutensol AO 7 (nonionic surfactant) 20 10 Coconut fatty acid Edenor K8-18 8.5 8.5 KOH 5 4.38 Sodium citrate dihydrate 3 3 1,2-Propylene glycol 8 8 Ethanol 2 2 Water qs qs

The above constituents were mixed and topped up to 90% by weight with water, i.e. a formulation gap of 10% by weight remained. The stock formulations were adjusted to pH 8.6 with KOH.

For the (unthickened) reference formulations, the stock formulations were topped up to 100% by weight with water. For the thickened test formulations, the stock formulations were topped up with thickener dispersion and water such that, taking into consideration the solids content of the dispersion, a thickener concentration of 1.5% by weight, based on the finished formulation, was established. Before the viscosity measurement, the formulations were left to rest for at least 5 hours.

The low-shear viscosity was measured taking into consideration the instructions in accordance with DIN 51550, DIN 53018, DIN 53019 using the Brookfield viscosimeter model RV-03 at a rotary speed of 20 revolutions per minute using spindle no. 62 at 20° C. The viscosity of the unthickened reference formulations was 128 mPas (Formulation 1) and 112 mPas (Formulation 2).

The transmission was measured in % at 440 nm at 23° C. The values found are given as a percentage, relative to the transmission of the unthickened reference formulation.

The results are summarized in Tables 5 and 6.

TABLE 5 Applications-related assessment of the thickener dispersions: Formulation 1 with 1.5% by weight of thickener Com- Com- Com- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- par- par- par- ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ison 1 ison 2 ison 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Transmission (%) 92 91 90 98 98 98 98 96 93 97 98 98 Low-shear 880 704 800 976 1056 1110 1100 1100 1000 944 944 976 viscosity (mPas) Example Example Example Example Example Example Example 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Transmission (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Low-shear 1008 1072 992 1008 912 1040 1104 viscosity (mPas) Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Example ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Transmission (%) 96 97 97 98 94 99 97 98 98 97 97 98 Low-shear 1716 1200 1968 1291 1033 1552 1150 1150 1037 1408 1293 1067 viscosity (mPas)

TABLE 6 Applications-related assessment of the thickener dispersions: Formulation 2 with 1.5% by weight of thickener Com- Com- Com- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- par- par- par- ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ison 1 ison 2 ison 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Transmission (%) 88 87 86 97 98 98 98 96 94 96 97 98 Low-shear 756 800 896 1456 1392 1392 1456 1456 1296 1312 1168 1184 viscosity (mPas) Example Example Example Example Example Example Example 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Transmission (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Low-shear 1360 1312 1296 1328 1184 1392 1450 viscosity (mPas) Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Example ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple ple 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Transmission (%) 97 99 98 99 96 100 97 98 98 98 99 98 Low-shear 2060 1440 1440 2362 1549 1240 1862 1380 1380 1244 1690 1280 viscosity (mPas)

It can be seen that the Comparative Examples 1 to 3 which do not comprise n-butyl acrylate exhibit an inadequate viscosity build-up. It can also be seen that Examples 10 to 16 in which the polymerization initiator was initially introduced in its entirety exhibit improved transparency in the liquid detergent as well as a high thickening power.

The suitability of various standard commercial rheology modifiers (acrylic associative thickeners of the HASE type (hydrophobically modified, alkali-swellable emulsion) for subsequent incorporation (post addition) was investigated. For this, the above stock formulation 2 was topped up with thickener and water such that, taking into consideration the solids content of the thickener, a thickener concentration of 1.5% by weight, based on the finished formulation, was established. Example 16 is also listed for comparison.

Acusol Carbopol Aqua Alcoguard Example 16 820¹⁾ 30²⁾ 5800³⁾ Transmission (%) 100 67 42 50 Low-shear viscosity 1450 624 512 512 (mPas) ¹⁾Acusol 820, hydrophobically modified, alkali-soluble acrylic polymer emulsion; liquid, about 30% active content; Rohm and Haas ²⁾Carbopol, slightly crosslinked alkali-swellable acrylic emulsion polymer, liquid, about 30% active content; Noveon ³⁾Alcoguard 5800, associative acrylic rheology modifier, liquid, about 30% active content; Alco Chemical 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An associative thickener comprising an aqueous dispersion of an alkali-soluble copolymer with copolymerized units comprising a) 10 to 75% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, b) at least one nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, c) at least one C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylate, and d) at least one C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate, wherein the alkyl chain length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the alkyl acrylate is 2.1 to 4.0, wherein the copolymer is a single-stage copolymer.
 2. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer further comprises copolymerized units of an ethylenically polyunsaturated monomer.
 3. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer is represented by formula R—O—(CH₂—CHR′—O)_(n)—CO—CR″═CH₂ wherein R is C₆-C₃₀-alkyl, R′ is hydrogen or methyl, R″ is hydrogen or methyl, and n is an integer from 2 to
 100. 4. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid and maleic acid.
 5. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises 5 to 85% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized units of n-butyl acrylate.
 6. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous dispersion further comprises an anionic or a nonionic emulsifier, or mixtures thereof.
 7. The associative thickener according to claim 6, in which the emulsifier is represented by formula R—O—(CH₂—CHR′—O)_(n)—X wherein R is C₆-C₃₀-alkyl, R′ is hydrogen or methyl, X is hydrogen or SO₃M, M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, and n is an integer from 2 to
 100. 8. The associative thickener according to claim 1, obtainable by a process comprising polymerization of a monomer mixture in the presence of a thermally activatable free-radical polymerization initiator.
 9. The associative thickener according to claim 8, where the thermally activatable free-radical polymerization initiator is initially introduced in its entirety and the monomer mixture is run in.
 10. The associative thickener according to claim 1, obtainable by a process comprising polymerization of a monomer mixture in the presence of a redox initiator system.
 11. The associative thickener according to claim 10, where the redox initiator system comprises ascorbic acid and at least one oxidizing agent component selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxide and peroxodisulfate.
 12. A liquid detergent or cleaner composition comprising an associative thickener according to claim 1 in completely or partially neutralized form.
 13. A method for the preparation of a liquid detergent or cleaner composition in which an associative thickener according to claim 1 is subsequently incorporated into a detergent or cleaner preformulation.
 14. A method for the preparation of an associative thickener, where a thermally activatable free-radical polymerization initiator is initially introduced and a monomer mixture is added which comprises a) 10 to 75% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, b) at least one nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, c) at least one C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylate, and d) at least one C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate, where the alkyl chain length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the alkyl acrylate is 2.1 to 4.0.
 15. A method for the preparation of an associative thickener, where a monomer mixture which comprises a) 10 to 75% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, b) at least one nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, c) at least one C₁-C₂-alkyl methacrylate, and d) at least one C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylate, where the alkyl chain length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the alkyl acrylate is 2.1 to 4.0, is added to an aqueous initial charge and during the addition of the monomer mixture, at least at times, an oxidizing agent component and a reducing agent component of a redox initiator system are added.
 16. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein component d) is a mixture of n-butyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate.
 17. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises 10 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized units of n-butyl acrylate.
 18. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises 15 to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized units of n-butyl acrylate.
 19. The associative thickener according to claim 1, wherein component c) is methyl methacrylate. 